How much rum & eggnog is too much? A
s the year end approaches, the festive season begins! This is also a time of year when we’re reminded not to drink and drive or to overindulge. Perhaps you already set your own limits to avoid feeling exhausted or hungover the next day, or to make sure all your memories of the office party are positive and free of regret. Do you ever have any concerns about setting those limits and sticking to them? Whether your favourite holiday drink is rum and eggnog or mulled wine – it’s recommended you drink no more than 3 drinks (for women) or 4 drinks (for men) on any single occasion. This is one of the recommendations found in the new Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines. They are designed to help you reduce your risk of illness or injury. You also need to know that not all drinks are equal. People tend to underestimate how much they are drinking because they don’t really know what constitutes one serving.
In order to know how much is too much, it’s helpful to make proper comparisons. Does a beer have the same amount of alcohol as a glass of wine? That depends. A standard drink is a unit that allows you to compare your beverages. The size of a standard drink depends on the percentage of alcohol in the beverage, but in general it is defined as: ÿ 341ml (12 oz.) of beer, cider or cooler, with 5% alcohol content(about a cup and a half) or ÿ 142ml (5 oz.) of wine, with 12% alcohol content ÿ 43 ml (1.5 oz.) of spirits, like rum or vodka, with 40% alcohol content There is quite a difference in the size of a standard drink depending on the type of beverage you are actually drinking. Using the guidelines can help you rethink how much is too much, for you. If you would like more information on standard drink size and setting limits, you can call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744 or visit ottawa.ca/ CheckYourDrinking You can also pick up a copy of Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines at any LCBO retail outlet.
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Manotick News EMC - Thursday, December 5, 2013
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